Selling '99 A4 - Are There Prices Real?

[DeeInSeatown]

Howdy all,

After years and years, I'm finally at a place where it's time to put the B5 up for sale. When I first started thinking about this, I looked on Craig's List, bookmarked against Kelly's Blue Book, and was thinking as much as I like the car, it's probably relegated to a low budget car that a high schooler buys and runs into the ground. So $2200-$2700. But then with all the 80s and 90s cars of my youth getting popular and values popping I got curious and started poking around. I go over to Bring a Trailer last night and find low-mileage, mostly stock, well cared for vehicles for upwards of $7k, with especially low mileage ones going into the 5 digits.

I mean damn, I like the car, still enjoy jumping in and driving it, and have been good about maintenance. I'm a city guy though and 3 cars per household ain't sustainable. Tabs are needed just park on the road and every day it sits curb-side is another day those tires are past their pull-by date.

Want it to find a good home, but also want to get a fair price. Are those prices on BaT to be believed?

[b5v6]

What someone asks and what they get can be significantly different. The challenge is no one is posting what they actually sold for so you'll only see asking price. I've been searching for a low mileage facelift 1.8T manual and seen some ridiculous asking prices. At the end of the day the market dictates the price. List it and see what people offer.

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[Arvai]

I've seen prices as low as $1500 for ones that are in rough shape needing work, to ones that are in respectable shape with good maintenance go for around 5k. Then the low mileage cars that are in real nice shape go for more (especially Avant's). I have a 99 1.8T 5MT Facelift car that runs and drives perfectly, has a ton of recent maintenance, 170k miles and is in pretty good shape overall with very little rust and clean paint. I'd probably ask around $4000 for mine since so many big component items have been replaced recently Including the clutch, turbo, timing belt, water pump, AC components, Axles, battery, etc. These cars if kept in nice shape will hold their value especially as they are now getting close to that 30yo mark.

[DeeInSeatown]

What someone asks and what they get can be significantly different. The challenge is no one is posting what they actually sold for so you'll only see asking price.

Reminds me of the many conversations we have had with our son about the price for Pokémon cards! But most definitely, and that’s really the question, what are cars going for? Asking is one thing, actually selling is another.

I’m not too familiar with BaT, but at least they do show sale price. Not sure if it also shows data on sales not closed.

[DeeInSeatown]

I've seen prices as low as $1500 for ones that are in rough shape needing work, to ones that are in respectable shape with good maintenance go for around 5k. Then the low mileage cars that are in real nice shape go for more (especially Avant's). I have a 99 1.8T 5MT Facelift car that runs and drives perfectly, has a ton of recent maintenance, 170k miles and is in pretty good shape overall with very little rust and clean paint. I'd probably ask around $4000 for mine since so many big component items have been replaced recently Including the clutch, turbo, timing belt, water pump, AC components, Axles, battery, etc. These cars if kept in nice shape will hold their value especially as they are now getting close to that 30yo mark.

Thanks for the info. This is helpful. I'd categorize the car as well maintained and runs well. Not perfect but what car this old is.

Funny about the Avants - consistently worth more than the sedans no matter the year. Not popular enough to stay on the new car market indefinitely, but popular enough to command a used premium.

I look at that 30yo mark - collector plates and no more tabs...only 4 years of tabs to get there.